Foldable steps or step-ladder



w. A s. HALL. FOIIDABLE STEPS 0R STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED 0C1. 3|. I918.

Patented June 3, 1919.

jag/$3 Q/mmmw steps to WILLIAM A. s. HALL, or ivroscn'rmn, 10m. 7

FOLDABLE STEPS 0R STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters .Patent.

Patented June 3,1919.

Application filed October 31, 1918. Serial No. 260,477.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAu A. S. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muscatine, in the county of Muscatine, State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful vFoldable Steps or Step-Ladder; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and. use the same.

This invention relates to an improved collapsible set of steps or stepladder, and an object of the invention is to provide a simple, eilicient and practical device of this kind, which is foldable or collapsible into a small compass for storage when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved collapsible or foldable steps, particularly adapted for gaining access to the fire escape over a window sill, and particularly when a radiator is adjacent thereto, especially in case of fire.

A further objectof the invention. is to provide means for connecting the foldable the radiator and to the flooring, in order to render them stable or firm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frame consisting of a series of lazy-ton bars, soconnected and arranged, that the frame may be easily collapsed, there being means provided to limit said lazytong bars in their distended positions.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterationsfalling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the collapsible steps constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the various parts extended.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the steps collapsed.

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 designates a frame comprising a pair of rear uprights 2 and a plurality of parallel super-imposed bars 3, 4 and 5, the rear ends of which are pivoted at 6 to the uprights 2. The bars of each pair are opposite each other. The bars 3 are substantially'of the same length, while the bars 4 and 5 are of different lengths. Connected between the bars 3-3, 3% and 45 of each side of the frame are vertical bars 7 their pivots being deslgnated by the numeral 9; The bars 3, 4, 5 and 7 constitute what is known as lazy-tongbars, whereby the frame may be easily distended or collapsed, as shown clearly in the drawing. Certain two oppo site bars 3 are provided with flanges 10, between which a plate step or tread 11 is secured as at 12 by means of rivets. This step plate or tread is provided with downwardly extending elongated flanges 13, and rising upwardly from the step plate are spurs or sharp pointed lugs 14, to prevent the feet from slipping. are formed by depressing the step plate from the under surface. Additional step plates or treads 15 and 16 are provided, which also have downwardly extending longitudinal'flanges 17, and spurs of sharpened lugs 18, formed in the same manner and for the same purpose as the lugs 14. The lazy-tong bars 4: and 5 have lateral flanges 19, between which the ends of the step plates or treads 15 and 16 are secured by rivets 20. An upper step plate or tread 21 is provided having downwardly extending cars 22 at its opposite ends. These ears- 22 are pivoted at 23 between the upper ends of the uprights, whereby the step plate or tread 21 may be folded as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that the upper step plate or tread 21 is adapted to bridge a radiator when the deviceis used adjacent the window sill. However, the top tread plate or step may engage a window-sill when a radiator is not located ad acent thereto. The lower ends of the uprights, are bent outwardly and terminate 'inlaterally extending feet- 24 to receive screws 25 for fastening the uprights to the floor. Riveted at 26 to the lower ends of the uprights 2 are additional platolegs 27, which terminate in laterally extending feet 28 to receive screws 29. It is obvious that by virtue of the screws 25 and 1.00

29 the uprights may be secured to the floor-- ing adjacent the radiator or window sill, thereby making the collapsible steps a detachable fixture of the room, so that easy access may be had to the fire escape through the window. It is obvious that in a rush for the fire escape in case of fire the collapsed steps may be opened or moved downwardly as shown in Fig. 1. Pivoted at 30 are flexible metallic straps between the spaced coils of the radiator,

whereby the hooks 32 of the metallic straps These lugs or spurs 70 31, to extend may engage parts of the coils to hold the upper parts of the uprights firm. It is clear from the drawing that the steps are of different lengths, and the frame gradually tapers to the upper step, and to provide such a structure, and yet at the same time to permit the structure to collapse as in Fig. 2, the uprights 2 are provided with one or more oflset bends 33 as shown clearly in Fig. 1. When the steps are distended or opened as in Fig. 1, the lowermost bars 3 abut the outer laterally extending feet 24, and since the rear, flange 17 of the step or tread 16 abuts the forward edges of the uprights 2, the various lazy-tong bars 3, at and 5 are limited in their open or distended positions, as in Fig. 1.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is 1. In a series of collapsible steps, the combination with a pair of parallel uprights, of a series of bars of varied lengths pivoted to the uprights whereby they may extend horizontally outwardly in superimposed positions, or extend substantially perpendicular, a series of vertical bars pivotally connecting between the first bars, and a series of tread plates fixed between the first bars, and a tread plate pivotally mounted between the upper ends of the uprights.

2. The combination with a pair of uprights having offset bends therein, of a plurality of bars of varied lengthspivotally connected to the uprights, whereby their outer ends assume foreshortened positions in stepped relations, and whereby said bars may extend substantially vertically, connecting means between said bars, whereby they may be opened or closed in unison, tread plates fixed between said bars, a tread plate pivotally mounted between the upper ends of the uprights.

3. The combination with a pair of uprights having offset bends therein, of a plurality of bars of varied lengths pivotally connected to the uprights, whereby their outer ends assume foreshortened positions in stepped relations, and whereby said bars may extend substantially vertically, connecting means between said bars, whereby they may be opened or closed in unison, tread plates fixed between said bars, a tread plate pivotally mounted between the upper ends of the uprights, the lower ends of the uprights having offset feet to be fastened to the flooring and against which the lowermost of said bars may abut to limit the bars in their open positions.

4. The combination with a pair of uprights having offset bends therein, of a plurality of bars of varied lengths. pivotally connected to the uprights, whereby their outer ends assume foreshortened positions in stepped relations, and whereby said bars may extend substantially vertically, connecting means between said bars, whereby they may be opened or closed in unison,-

tread plates fixed between said bars, a tread plate pivotally mounted between the upper ends of the uprights, the lower ends of the uprights having ofl'set feet to be fastened to the flooring and against which the lower most of said bars may abut to limit the bars in their open positions, one of said steps having means to abut the forward edges of the uprightsto additionally limit the bars in their distended or open positions, and means pivotally carried by the uprights and adapted to extend between the coils. of a radiator to render the steps additionally rigid.

In testimony name to this specification in two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. S. HALL.

whereof I have signed my the presence of lVitnesses:

R. G. TirToN, E. G. ERWIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

